Chilly temperatures return in time for IceFest in Chambersburg

Colder temperatures are settling in across Franklin County, just in time for the 11th annual IceFest, which kicks off at 5 tonight in downtown Chambersburg.

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By Stephanie Harbaugh/The Record Herald

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By Stephanie Harbaugh/The Record Herald

Posted Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:30 AM

By Stephanie Harbaugh/The Record Herald

Posted Jan. 31, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Colder temperatures are settling in across Franklin County, just in time for the 11th annual IceFest, which kicks off at 5 tonight in downtown Chambersburg.

The chilly conditions are a necessity during the winter festival, which had been dampered in recent years by milder weather that left ice sculptures at the mercy of the hot sun.

The cooler weather comes on the heels of abnormally mild 60-degree temperatures that had residents flocking outdoors without their coats, scarves and gloves.

IceFest

The annual winter festival will run through Sunday, and will feature giant ice sculptures carved right before visitors’ eyes, along with a host of smaller ice sculptures sponsored by area businesses that were carved ahead of time.

Crews with DiMartino Ice Co. of Jeannette will hold the live carving from 5 to 8 tonight, and will coincide with the theme, “IceFest: Past, Present and Future.”

One of the children’s favorites — a 40-foot ice slide that they can sled down — will be back for their enjoyment, free of charge again this year.

Other activities include: a Snowfall Ball dance; chili cookoff; hot pepper eating contest; an amateur and professional cake decorators “Icing on the Cake,” contest with a theme of “children’s literature;” a scavenger hunt; polar dunk plunge; and fireworks.

For a detailed list of activities and times, visit the IceFest website:

After a dreary and rainy Wednesday, area residents can expect to see an appearance from the sun as temperatures reach a high of 40 degrees.

Temperatures will fall to the mid-20s tonight, according to Paul Head, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College.

As IceFest kicks into high gear , temperatures will remain chilly with highs in the mid-30s on Friday, and a possible chance of light snow on Saturday evening.

“An Alberta clipper will be moving across Virginia Saturday evening that could bring snow to the southern portion of Pennsylvania,” said Head, who noted the local area may see 1 or 2 inches of accumulation. “Just enough to make the roads really slippery,” he added.